a, $\frac{x}{12}-\frac{1}{4}= \frac{2}{3}:2$
$\frac{x}{12}= \frac{1}{4}+\frac{2}{3}:2$
$\frac{x}{12}= \frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{3}$
$\frac{x}{12}= \frac{7}{12}$
$x= 7$
b, $\frac{2}{5}+\frac{x}{9}= 2-1\frac{1}{2}$
$\frac{2}{5}+\frac{x}{9}= \frac{1}{2}$
$\frac{x}{9}= \frac{1}{2}-\frac{2}{5}$
$\frac{x}{9}= \frac{1}{10}$
$x= \frac{1}{10}×9= \frac{9}{10}$